Two measures of the changing importance of an industry are its contributions to GDP at basic prices and to employment; these are illustrated in table 13.1.

The table shows that, in 1999-2000, Manufacturing remained the most significant industry in terms of its contribution to GDP. Property and business services was the only other industry to contribute over 10% of GDP; it also contributed over 10% of total employment to be the third largest employing industry. Retail trade, with 15% of total employment, was the largest employing industry, followed by Manufacturing (13%).

(a) Industry gross value added at basic prices.(b) Estimates relate to May 2000 and are entirely sourced from the Labour Force Survey.(c) Gross value added at current prices. (d) Percentage contributions may not sum to 100% due to rounding.(e) Defence forces are not included in the estimates of employment.

Source: Australian System of National Accounts, 1999-00 (5204.0); Labour Force, Australia, May 2000 (6203.0).